Clutch



Feb. 23, 1932. c B|GGERT, JR 1,846,179

CLUTCH Filed Oct. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES INVENTOR M C- I Feb. '23, 1932. F. c. BIGGERT, JR 1,846,179

' CLUTCH Filed Oct. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOB Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLORENCE C. BIGQEBT, 73., O! GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO UNITEl) ENGINEERING & FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- .POBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CLUTCH Application fled October 85, 1939. Serial No. 402,380.

My invention pertains to clutches and particularly to clutches of what may be called the one-revolution type, that is, clutches adapted to establish a driving connection between elements of a machine and to release such connection after one revolution, or a given part of a revolution, of the machine has taken place. Devices constructed in accordance with my invention have particular usefulness in throwing into operation the cutting members of the flying cutters employed in rolling mill practice for severing strip material while in motion; and the embodiment of my invention described below in detail is illustrated as applied in such connection. Such devices, however, have many other fields of usefulness.

Itis an object of my invention to provide a clutch of the above-named character which will be specially reliableand certain in its operation, and which will be durable, simple,

and economical both to construct and maintain. And other objects will appear from the following specification and the claims annexed thereto.

By way of example, I have described in the following specification and shown in the ac-.

exceeding the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the flying cutter and clutch;

Fig. 2 is en enlarged partly sectional view of the clutch;

Fig. 3 is a view of the cams, cam contractors and associated parts of the clutch, as seen from the right of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the cams.

As stated, the form of clutch herein selected for description and illustration is shown as applied to a flying cutter of the character forming the subject of my copending appli- -blade 13 is out o cation above referred to. Referrin to Fig. 1, such a flyin cutter comprises a frame 10 having an anvil roll 11, over which the strip a to be severed travels, mounted in suitable hearings in the lower part thereof. A blade holder 12 carrying a blade 13 cooperates w th the anvil roll 11 and is mounted in hearings in a block 14 which is reci rocably mounted in suitable ways formed int e frame 10. The blade holder 12 and anvil roll 11 are driven at peripheral speeds which are substantially the same as the linear speed of the stri a, so that when the blade holder and anvil roll are moved into cooperative relation with each other the blade 13 will sever the strip during the motion of the latter.

The block 14 has connected to it one endof a lever 15 which is pivoted to the frame 10 and is operated o}, atits other end, by a a limiting stopg 17 formed on the frame 10.

In this elevated position of the block 14, the

operative relation with the anvil roll 11. when it is desired to sever the strip, the block: 14- is depressed, against the action of the sprin 16, so that the blade 13 will engage the anv1l roll 11, during the revolution of these parts, and thereby sever the stri To effect the downward movement of t e block 14, the latter has pivoted thereto a gag plate 18 which, when in the full line position shown in Fig. 1, stands in the path of an'abutment 19 which extends downwardjly from a cross head 20 reciprocably mounted carried by a counter-shaft 25 wlnch has its bearings in brackets 26 extending from the frame. The shaft 25 has a n connection, of an even ratio, with t e bla e holder 12.

From the above it will be seen that when the gag plate 18 is in the position shown in be forced downward. When, however, the.

gag plate is in the dotted line position, it is out of the path of the abutment 19, so that the block 14 remains in its upper'position and is not affected by the reciprocations of the cross head 20, In the operation of the machine, the gag plate remains in the dotted line position until such time as it is desired 'to sever the strip, whereupon the gagplate is moved into the full line position by means now to be described.

The gag plate 18 has secured thereto a lug 27 to which is pivoted one end of a link 28. The other end of the link is provided with a cam contactor 29, and is pivoted between ears 30 formed in the upper end of an actuating lever 31 which is rockably mounted upon a shaft 32 which may be carried by the brackets 26. The cam contactor 29 cooperates with a cam 33 on the counter-shaft 25, the hump 34 of such cam operating to rock the actuating lever 31 in a contra-clockwise direction and cause the link 28'to push the gag plate 18 from its full line into its dotted line position, the extent of the movement being limited by the engagement of an abutment 31a on the actuating lever with a stop 31?) secured to a fixed part of the machine, such as one of the brackets 26.

The actuating lever 31 is formed with a bearing for receiving a transversely extending rock shaft 35 to the end of which is secured an armature lever-36. The armature lever is formed at its end with a cam con tator 37 whichcooperates with a cam 38 mounted on the shaft 25 beside the cam 34. The cam 38 is formed with a low portion 39, an incline 40 and a raised portion 41, which latter extends through about three-quarters of its periphery. When the low portion 39 of the cam is opposite the contactor 37, the armature lever 36 can be swung from the dotted into the full line position shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, as the counter-shaft 25 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the contactor will ride up the incline 40, thereby swinging the actuating lever 31 in a clockwise direction and causing the link 28 to pull the gag plate 18 from its dotted into its full line position. Thus the cam 38 operates to move the gag plate 18 to the right while the cam 33 operates to move it to the left.

The armature lever 36 is normally held in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 by means of a torsion spring 42 coiled between it and the actuating lever 31. An electromagnet 43 is mounted on a suitable fixed part of the machine, such as one of the brackets 26, and is disposed so that one pole 44 is opposite the armature lever 36; so that when the magnet is energized the armature lever will be drawn, if the position of the high portion 41 of the cam 38 permits, from the dotted line position into the full line position in which its cam contactor 37 is in operative relation with the cam 38. In order that thecam'contactor 37 may remain upon the raised portion 41 of the cam 38 in spite of the action of the spring 42 and of the fact that the electromagnet 43 may be deenergized, the raised portion 41 is formed with a slight taper, and the cam contactor 37 is correspondingly tapered, as indicated at 37a.

The energizing of the electromagnet 43 can be effected automatically, by means, for instance, which are controlled by the movement of the strip a. For example, any one of numerous well known switch devices..which may be conveniently actuated by the leading end of the moving strip a, may be employed for energizing the magnet and maintaining it energized for the requisite'period of time. If, when the magnet is energized, the low portion 39 of the cam 38 is not opposite the contactor 37, such contactor will simply be drawn against the side face of the raised portion 41' of the cam and will remain in such engagement until the lower portion 39 of the cam comes around, whereupon the contactor 37 will snap forward into a position above the low portion 39 of the cam. The magnet 43 will hold the armature lever in this position until the cam 38 has rotated far enough for its raised portion 41 to have engaged the contactor 37, whereafter, because of the tapered shape of the cam portion 41 and the contactor 37, the magnet may be deenergized without danger of the contactor 37 moving out of operative position with respect to the raised cam portion 41.

In order definitely to insure that the contactor 37 of the'armature 36 shall be moved out of operative relation with the cam '38 at each revolution of the counter-shaft 25 when the end of the high portion 41 is reached, a face cam 47 is mounted on the counter-shaft 25 adjacent the cam 38, and 1s formed with a projection 49 adapted to enga e the armature lever 36 just before. the low-portion 39 of the cam 38 comes opposite the contactor 37. The cam projection 49 definitely pushes the armature lever 36 from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, the armature lever being thereafter maintained in such position by the I torsion spring 42.

The operation of the clutch is as follows: It being remembered that the countershaft 25 is geared in one-to-one relation with the eccentric shaft 22, the cams are so disposed upon the counter-shaft that the low portion 39 comes opposite the contactor 37 substantially when the cross head 20 is in its uppermost position permitting the gag plate 18 to be swung in beneath the abutment 19. Supposing that the cycle under consideration of the machine is one in which the clutch is to be operated tocause the strip to be severed,

is energized somewhat before that time, its

energization will be maintained long enough so that the cam contactor 37 will snap in above the low portion 39 of the cam when such low portion comes opposite it. At the time the armature lever is thus drawn forward, so as to move its contactor 37 into the space above the low portion 39 of the cam 38, the gag plate 18 is in its dotted line position. During the rotation of the countershaft 25 in the direction of the arrow, the inclined portion 40 of the cam 38, pushing against the contactor 37, will move the armature lever 36 to the right, thereby rocking the actuating lever 31 in a clockwise direction and pulling the gag plate 18 from its dotted line position into the full line position in which it is in the path of the abutment 19 on the cross head 20. This is the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2. As the countershaft 25 continues to rotate, the ta ered edge 37 a of the contactor 37, engaging t e tapered face of the cam portion 41, prevents disengagement laterally of the contactor 37 from such cam portion; so that the circuit of the magnet 43 can be broken at any time after.

the contactor 37 has come into engagement with the tapered edge of the high portion 41 of the cam. During the continued rotation of the countershaft 25, in which time the block 14 descends and ascends, the gag plate 18 is definitely maintained in line with the abutment 19 by the continued engagement of the contactor 37 with the high portion 41 of the cam. When the shaft 25 has rotated through a further distance, sufiicient for the block 14 to have passed its lowest position, and, in this instance, to have nearly completed its upward movement, the projection 49 of the face cam 48 engages the face of the armature lever 36 and rocks the latter about its pivot, to push the cont-actor 37 definitely ofi the high portion 41 of the cam. The high portion 41 of the cam is reduced, as indicated at 50, to enable the contactor 37 thus to be pushed oti therefrom. Immediately thereafter, in the further revolution of the countershaft 25, the hump 34 of the cam 33 will engage the contactor 29 on the link 28. whereby the gag plate 18 is pushed back from its full line into its dotted line position in such a definite manner as to overcome any clamping action which may obtain owing to the pressure of the top of the gag plate 18 against the abutment 19 by the spring 16. The gag plate will remain in its dotted. line position during any number of further rotations of the shaft '25, thereby enabling the strip a to continue its movement, without being severed, until the magnet 43 is again energized. To prevent accidental movement of the gag plate into position beneath the abutment 19,

a spring 51 may be supplied, connected, for instance, between the gag plate 18 and the frame 10.

It will be seen that the device ermits of an exceedingly simple and rugge construction, and that it is entirely certain in its operation. \Vhen the magnet 43 is energized, the armature lever 36 is moved into position so as to put the device in condition for operation, and this can only occur when the cross head 20 is in a position in which the ga plate 18 can be introduced beneath it. W en the gag plate hasbeen swung in below the cross head, so as to cause the block 14 to be depressed, it is definitely held in such position by the engagement of the contactor 37 with the high cam portion 41, such engagement being locked by reason of the tapered shape of these parts. Likewise, on the near completion of the cycle, the armature lever 36 is operated by the cam projection 49, and, later, the gag plate is pushed aside b v the cam projection 34, so as to insure de nitely that the device be thrown out of. operation until the magnet 43 is again ener 'zed. By thus providlng means whereby t e clutch member, in this instance the gag plate 18, is always definitely moved out nected with said clutch member to operate the latter, and an electromagnet for moving said cam-member into operative relation with said cam.

2. The combination with a driving element, a-driven element, and a movable clutch member for establishing driving connection betwen said elements of means for actuating said clutch comprising a shaft, a cam thereon,.a cam-member actuated by said cam and movable into and out of operative relation therewith, said cam-member being connected with said clutch member to operate the latter to establish driving connection between said elements, and a second cam on said shaft ada ted to operate said clutch member to brea such driving connection.

3. The combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch member for establishing driving connection between said elements of means for actuating said clutch member comprising a cam, a cammember adapted to be actuated by said cam and movable into and out of operative relation therewith, said cam-memberbeing connected with said clutch member to operate the latter to establish driving connection between said elements, means, operative at each cycle of the actuating means, adapted 4. The combination with a driving element, a drivenelement, and a movable clutch member for establishing driving connection between said elements of means for actuating said clutch comprising a shaft, a cam thereon, a cam-member actuated by said cam and movable into and out of operative relation therewith,'said cam-member being connected with said clutch member to operate the latter to establish driving connection between said elements, a second cam on said shaft for operating said clutch member to break such drivin connection, and a thirdcam. on said shaft for moving said cam-member out of operative relation with said firstnamed cam.

5. The combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch member forestablishin drivin connection between said elements 0 means or actuating said clutch comprising a shaft, a cam thereon, a cam-member actuated by said cam and movable into and out of operative relation therewith, said cam-member being connected with said clutch member to operate the latter to establish driving connection between said elements, a second cam on said shaft for operating said clutch member to break such driving connection, an electromagnet for movin said cam-member into operative relation wit said first-named cam, and a third cam on said shaft for moving said cam-member out of operative relation with such cam.

6. The combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable'clutch member for establishing driving connection between said elements of means for actuating said clutch member comprisin an operating member associated with said c utch member,

. a cam, a cam-member adapted to be actuated by said cam to move said operating member in one direction, said cam-member being associated with said operating member so as to be movable with respect to the latter into and out ,of operative relation with said' cam, and a second cam for moving said operating member in the opposite direction. v

7. The combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch member for establishing driving connection between said elements of means for actuating said clutch member comprising an operating member associated with said clutch member,

a cam, a cam-member adapted to be actuated by said cam to move said operating member in one direction, said cam-member being associated with said operating member so as to be movable with respect to the latter into and out of operative relation with said cam, a second cam for moving said operatingmember in the opposite direction, and a third cam for moving said cam-member out of operative relation with said first-named cam.

8. The combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch member for establishing driving connection between said elements of means for actuating said clutch member com rising a cam-member ada ted to operate said clutch-member to establis driving connection between said elements, a cam adapted to. actuate said cammember and having a portion for maintainingthe latter in actuated position, means for effecting a relative movement into and out of operative relation between said cam-member and cam, and means for preventing said relative movement during operation of the maintaining ortion of said cam.

, 9. The com ination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch member for establishing driving connection between said'elements of means for actuating said clutch member com rising a cam-member ada ted to operate said clutch-member to establish driving connection between said elements, a cam adapted to actuate said cammember and having a portion for maintaining the latter in actuated position, and means for effecting a relative movement into and out of operative relation between said cammember and cam, said cam-member and the maintaining portion of said cam being shaped to prevent relative movement of one out of operative relation with the other.

10. The combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch member for establishin driving connection between said elements 0% means for actuating said clutch member comprising normally ineffective means, operable on each cycle of the actuatingmeans, for 0 rating said clutch member to establish driving connection between said elements, means for rendering said 0 rating means effective when operation ol said clutch member is desired, and means operable on each cycle of the actuating means ada ted to operate said clutchmember to brea driving connection between said elements. 11. The' combination with a driving element, a driven element, and a movable clutch. member for establishin driving connectionbetween said elements 0 means for actuating said clutch member comprising normally ineffective means operable on each cycle of the actuating means for o erating said clutch member to establish driving connection between said elements, means for rendering said operating means eflective when operation of said clutch member is desired, means operable at each cycle of the actuating means adapted positively to render said operating 5 means ineffective, and means operable on each cycle of the actuating means adapted to operate said clutch member to break driving connection between said elements.

In testimon FLO ENOE 6.13

whereof I si n m name. GG RT, J R. 

